BUSINESS
TAJBank, NIPOST Collaborate on Public-Private Partnership Initiatives
…..TAJBank, NIPOST Collaborate on Public-Private Partnership Initiatives
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Nigeria’s fastest growing non-interest banking services provider, TAJBank Limited and Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have formalized a new public-private partnership (PPP) initiative with a view to working together for mutual and the nation’s socioeconomic benefits.
The partnership between the non-interest lender and the postal services agency was formalized at the NIPOST Head Office in Abuja, where both parties met for collaborative discussions on how they can push further on initiatives targeted at public-private endeavours with the aim of adding value to the nation’s financial inclusion drive and enhancement of postal services in the country.
Speaking during the event, TAJBank’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, thanked the Postmaster General/CEO of NIPOST, Ms. Tola Odeyemi, for the opportunity given the bank to partner the Service in the management’s efforts to work hand in hand with the firm, riding primarily on branch expansion with NIPOST offices thus expanding the innovative products and services of the non-interest lender.
The world-class banker told reporters that the collaboration with NIPOST hinges on 3Rs – rent, refurbish and rebrand, while also commenting on the latest network expansion of TAJBank’s services into the Lagos axis that it was “another step taken by the board and management of the bank to add value to individuals and business owners’ efforts in terms of cost-free, real-time services and make accessible to them innovative user experience with a vast bouquet of functionalities.
“Indeed, the point here is that at TAJBank, we are about a strategy of cost-saving, in addition to leveraging our services on world-class ICT infrastructure and solutions nationwide, determined to promote inclusion at the grassroots not through POS or other channels alone but through human interface with prospective customers”, Joda assured.
Commenting on the collaboration with TAJBank, the Postmaster General/CEO of NIPOST commended the non-interest lender’s collaboration strategy and expressed optimism that working together would be mutually beneficial to NIPOST and TAJBank.
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Odeyemi enthused: ‘TAJBank needs no introduction and as soon as I had the opportunity to be a part of this initiative, it was a resounding yes. The brand speaks for itself and is here to provide cost-efficient and interest-free banking services to everyone.”
During a brief chat with journalists at the side-lines of the event, the bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, maintained that “what we are doing here today is to demonstrate to Nigerians and indeed the global community that TAJBank is fully determined to show how we intend to redefine non-interest banking services as a customer-focused lender and a collaboration with NIPOST which is a very Nigerian parastatal with history aligns with this strategy – that is ready to give all that it takes to surpass customer expectations wherever we are located.
“As our mantra clearly states, our only interest is our customers and I wish to mention that as a country, our history is key. It gives us a roadmap to where we are coming from and where we are going to. TAJBank is a proudly Nigerian institution and with a partnership with NIPOST, we can rebuild our heritage, re-tell our story and above all contribute significantly to the nation’s economy”, Idi added.
…..TAJBank, NIPOST Collaborate on Public-Private Partnership Initiatives
Economy
Investors Gain N183bn on NGX
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
Economy
Yuan Weakens to 7.1870 Against Dollar
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)Economy
Bring Kaduna Refinery Back into Operation, Youth Group Urges NNPCL
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)